Key Theory Analysis:
- Genre codes and conventions
- Genre theory
- Genre fluidity
- Camera work - framing and composition shot types, angle, position, movement
- Lighting and colour
- Editing – pace, type of edits, continuity
- Narrative construction, related to narrative theory
- Sound – dialogue, music
- Mise-en-scene – setting and location, props, costume/dress, hair/make-up
Monotone robotic voice and electrical sounds, suggests sci-fi conventions
Empty landscapes, combined with the slow paced intense music creates an eery and serious atmosphere, a convention of sic-fi genre.
Set in a large green house working space here there are robotic workers.
Costume - dressed in all yellow suits, mirroring the idea of being a prisoner, all in uniform as the producers are trying to enforce themes of them all being identical and do not have unique qualities. Long jacket/shirt connotes position of authority which is enforced by his firm tone of voice and stern facial expression, as he takes control of a situation and gives orders and directions to other characters in the scene.
The camera work deliberately uses a close up shot on the number marked on the robots arm so audiences notice it and take significance from it. Creates an intertextual reference(cows are branded) - synths are being treated like animals. which references to real life: historical issues of slavery.
When the robot is tazed he falls to the floor, camera angle from the floor looking directly into the camera, addressing the audience, as if he is telling you something that the other characters in the scene don't know.
After he is shot all of the other robots continue to work as they have no feelings of empathy, unusual for audiences to experience, which is the aim for producers.
Split into different narratives one from the POV of the robot working as a slave, one from the travelling escaped robots POV, waiting to save the other, creates an interesting and intriguing storyline.
Editing - Skips to a fast paced shot walking through a lab corridor with the robot on a stretcher, experimental editing.
The whole piece explores themes of the technology is becoming dominant (taking over society) creates allegorical conventions of day-to-day issues occurring in real life.
Character analysis:
LEO
- Is the active protagonist
- Rarely smiles or shows emotion
- A combatant/survivor figure
- The leader, group relies on him
- Relatable through age, is never sexualised
